New 50th-anniversary audio tour celebrates all things Concordia
Concordia’s 50th anniversary is being celebrated with a pride-building lineup of special initiatives until June 2025.
One of the highlights is Forever Forward, a new audio-based tour and podcast designed to inform how the university community interacts with Concordia’s two campuses.
Divided into five chapters and narrated by notable alumni, the tour reflects on aspects of Concordia’s past and present that advanced the university forward. It is designed to be enjoyed from anywhere, making it accessible to a wide audience.
Each chapter delves into key moments in the university’s journey, from the foundational merger of Loyola College and Sir George Williams University in 1974 to Concordia’s present-day standing as a leading centre of next-generation teaching, learning and research.
Here’s a breakdown of the five chapters:
Chapter 1: Loyola’s Legacy: Narrated by Julian McKenzie, BA 16, broadcaster and journalist, this chapter explores the programs, buildings and varsity teams at Loyola that laid the groundwork for the west-end campus we know today.
Chapter 2: The Path Forward: Emily Brass, BA 12, a CBC Manitoba anchor and reporter, brings listeners through Loyola’s newer facilities and research areas in the sciences and preventive health care that are driving the campus forward.
Chapter 3: Where Communities Connect: Hosted by journalist and podcaster Josie Fomé, BA 17, GrDip 18, this chapter highlights the rich history of Sir George Williams Campus as a connector for various communities.
Chapter 4: Building a Better Tomorrow: Playwright and queer oral history enthusiast Dane Stewart, MFA 17, explores the programs, initiatives and facilities at Sir George Williams focused on social mobility and addressing societal challenges.
Chapter 5: A Cornerstone for Arts and Culture: Broadcast journalist and podcaster Jackie Rourke, BA 91, guides listeners through Concordia’s contributions to the arts and its lasting legacy on campus and beyond.
Mélodie Le Siège, BA 10, manager of Strategic Content, 50th Anniversary, University Advancement, played a key role in the conception of Forever Forward with support from Concordia’s Records Management and Archives team and lead writer Marc Lowe, GrDip 94. She sees the audio tour as the perfect way to learn about Concordia’s history and its tremendous growth.
“The goal of this audio tour is to celebrate all things Concordia as part of our 50th anniversary,” says Le Siège. “This tour, designed to pique the curiosity of listeners and allow them to interact with our campuses in a memorable way, is for everyone from prospective and incoming students to alumni and friends.”
Forever Forward is available at concordia.ca/50tours or on Youtube with timestamped highlights for easy navigation.